Apple set to release next iPhone on September 21

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,

After iMore broke the news that sources indicated that Apple would announce the next iPhone on September 12 with the launch of the device happening nine days later on the 21st, more outlets have independently confirmed the scoop. Publications that have chimed in include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, All Things D, and even Jim Dalrymple at The Loop (he's likely the most trustworthy of the bunch.) This means that interested iPhone buyers have just six weeks to wait until Apple announces its next flagship product, and one more week on top of that to get their hands on it.

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The design of the next iPhone has likely leaked multiple times, and is expected to feature a taller 4-inch display, two-toned rear casing, built-in NFC, and other improvements, including a new, smaller dock connector.

Hulu Plus now available on Apple TV

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Home Entertainment,

In a move that's far overdue, Apple has finally launched Hulu Plus on the Apple TV. A software update was released early this morning that adds the Hulu Plus app to the second- and third-generation Apple set-top-box, but it's a behind-the-scenes update. All you need to do is restart your Apple TV if you don't see Hulu Plus on the home screen.

Users can get a 1-week trial, log in with their existing Hulu Plus account, or subscribe right from the Apple TV using their connected iTunes account.

Read More | Hulu

Decide.com launches Decide Score ranking alongside price forcasting

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hot Deals, Internet,

We've covered Decide before--it's the shopping search engine that's focused on telling you when you should buy certain products, based on when they'll be cheapest. For example, if you are looking to buy a Panasonic Lumix ZS20 camera, Decide would tell you if now is a good time, or if you should wait a week or two, when the price is expected to drop. They even stand behind their predictions with a money-back guarantee.

One complaint that we had about the service was that, sure, it was easy to recommend products based on pricing trends, but that didn't mean that the product was a good one. Maybe someone has received a significant price drop simply because no one wanted it because it didn't perform as expected. It wouldn't be the first time. Today Decide is aiming to plug that hole with its new product recommendations service.

Click to continue reading Decide.com launches Decide Score ranking alongside price forcasting

Read More | Decide

Google Nexus 7 review

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Google, Handhelds, Product Reviews,

Google unveiled the Nexus 7 tablet at Google I/O 2012 (watch the keynote here,) making it the very first device to launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Many were waiting for Google to compete directly in the tablet space, and the 7-inch Nexus 7 is the answer. The specs show that it's a powerhouse, and the sales have been off the charts, resulting in the 16 GB Nexus 7 being sold out briefly (it's back now.) Still, many consumers have the iPad on their mind when thinking about tablets, regardless of how hard companies like Amazon and Google are pushing their alternatives. Does the Nexus 7 have a place in the marketplace, meeting needs that other tablets can't? Join us in our full review as we explore Google's first tablet.

Click to continue reading Google Nexus 7 review

Mountain Lion is the most successful OS X release of all time

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, PC / Laptop, Software,

Apple has announced that Mountain Lion is the most successful OS X release ever. In the first four days of availability on the Mac App Store, OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion was downloaded more than 3 million times.

“Just a year after the incredibly successful introduction of Lion, customers have downloaded Mountain Lion over three million times in just four days, making it our most successful release ever,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing said in a released statement today.

We'd guess that both the low $20 price and the ease of updating thanks to the Mac App Store contributed to the early success. Have you upgraded yet? If you're still on the fence, check out the 10 features that make Mountain Lion a steal. You can get Mountain Lion now on the Mac App Store.

The $249 Archos 97 Carbon 9.7-inch Android tablet now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Handhelds, Hot Deals,

Remember that super-affordable Archos 97 Carbon that we talked about a couple of weeks ago? Well, the $249 Ice Cream Sandwich-powered tablet is now on sale. As a refresher, the 97 Carbon sports a 9.7-inch IPS display with 1024 x 768 resolution. It ships with 16GB of storage, upgradeable to 48GB with a 32GB microSD card. You'll find a 1 GHz processor and 1 GB RAM powering this slate, which is good enough to decode full 1080p video and output it to an HDTV with the built-in HDMI port. Shipping is free from Archos.

Read More | Archos 97 Carbon

The 16GB Nexus 7 is back in stock on Google Play

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Handhelds,

A few days ago we reported that the 16GB Nexus 7 tablet was sold out in the Google Play store. The product was an unexpected runaway hit, as Google incorrectly assumed that it would sell more of the 8GB unit than the more expensive 16GB model. It looks like the inventory issues have been sorted out, as the 16GB Nexus 7 is back on sale on Google Play. If you've been jonesing for one, we recommend you snap one up quick before another potential sell-out.

Read More | 16GB Nexus 7

My LCS…RIP

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials,

So... my local comic book store closed down after 25 years in business. It’s the same old story - they can’t make a go of it any more following a boom period in the 1990s.

I found out about it, oddly enough, on Free Comic Book Day this year, and was part of a conversation where the owner was discussing the reasons why his store was closing. One of his comments was that he had seen a decrease in comic book-related traffic in his shop over the years and that he had not seen new, younger readers coming in for comics.

The store had between 50 and 70 regular subscribers in a community comprised of three towns, totalling around 50,000 people. It’s a mostly rural area that’s been hit hard economically over the years - there are almost no aspirational jobs for anyone in their 20s, and the population demos have less than 6% of the population between the ages of 20-25.

Click to continue reading My LCS…RIP

Bullet In The Face: Alan Spencer & Alex Maleev

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Television, Marvel Comics,

One of the shows that I'm really looking forward to is Alan Spencer's Bullet In The Face. It debuts on IFC on August 16.

And why am I looking forward to it? Just one reason, really: it's Alan Spencer. He created the great Sledge Hammer! sitcom and based solely on that, he gets a free pass from me for life - I'll check out anything he's involved in. Plus, this stars Eddie Izzard and Eric Roberts.

To promote his new show, Alan took to Facebook and posted the following: "Here’s something I’m proud to share. IFC’s publicity team made a classy move by commissioning Alex Maleev to create this artwork for Bullet In The Face. The artist cited Robert McGinnis' posters for James Bond as an inspiration, making this doubly meaningful… or shall I say 007 meaningful."

Maleev, of course, is perhaps best known for his work on Daredevil with Brian Bendis. Looking at his poster for BITF, all I can think is that he should do more.

Click to continue reading Bullet In The Face: Alan Spencer & Alex Maleev

Weekend Reading: Olympics, Dark Knight, Ellis and Watchmen

Posted by Tom Mason Categories: Editorials, Movies, DC Comics, Independent,

I know we're all very busy watching this running, jumping, swimming thing from London, but fortunately there's still time to see the gold, silver and bronze of the internets.

Warren Ellis’ tweets on the Olympics opening ceremony can’t be beat.

Award-winning novelist John Scalzi (Redshirts) blogs about his first experience at Comic Con International.

Now that Valiant’s back, you know who else is returning? A new incarnation of First Comics.

Bleeding Cool reports on a “lost” Alan Moore project seeing the light of day through Avatar.

Click to continue reading Weekend Reading: Olympics, Dark Knight, Ellis and Watchmen